Railway car refrigerator hatch closure mechanism



March 5, 1940- A. w. L. HARTBAUER RAILWAY CAR REFRIGERATOR HATCH CLOSUREMECHANISM Filed Dec. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 2' F, 5 y. INVENTOR.

IQ, v BY 1 ATTORNEY.

March 5,1940. A. w. 1 HARTBAUER 2,192,440

RAILWAY CAR REFRIGERATOR HATCH CLOSURE MECHANISM Filed Dec. 21, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 2 4 a; 3 55' I2 4 4 l 45 allv n H A R 1/ 5 v I 1, o 5 l 4'Z////Z/////////////////4/ ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 5, 1940 RAILWAY OAR REFRIGERATOR HATCH CLOSURE MECHANISMAugust William Louis Harthauer, Chicago, Ill. Application December 21,1936, Serial No. 116,875 Claims. (01.98 7) The invention relates toahatch closure mech- 1 anism and particularly for use on railwayrefrigerator cars,

Hatch closure mechanisms in general use have 3 {I} an operating leverfor setting the hatch cover but are not usually adapted to aid inreleasing the tightlywedged plug of, the hatch closure. In many cases,however, the operating lever is utilized as the ventilating bar. In manycases [10, also the operating lever is attached to the car parts by astaple type of fastener. This method of fasteninghas a number ofobjections because it offers little or no guide means to control themovement of the operating lever in release posi tion, and therefore theoperating lever may assume any number of positions including the foulingof the hatch opening. This presents a condition where the operator ofthe hatch closure mechanism is required to inspect the position of thehatch closure parts to be certain that the hatch opening is clear beforeattempting to swing the hatch closure toward its closed position.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide hatchclosure mechanism which is adapted to release the hatch closure tofacilitate opening thereof, to support the hatch closure in any of thepositions required for the various stages of ventilation of the car andalso to move the hatch closure to its ultimate closed position.

A further object of the invention is to position the hatch closuremechanism approximately parallel to the face of the hatch cover and toprovide guide means to automatically regulate the release position ofthe movable parts, thereby eliminating any possibility of fouling thehatch closure, car appliances, or roof parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hatch closuremechanismadapted to be used in general refrigerator car servicein which the lydescribed in connection with the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodi-5- ment of the invention, but it will be understood use of theventilating bar is required, and also cover 5 by the bolts 8, 8.

that I do not limit myself to the exact con-- st-ruction shown andillustrated, but in the claims hereinafter set forth, I intend to coverall variations and modifications of the invention.

In the drawings: 5

Figure l is an elevation side viewshowing one form of hatch cover withthe ventilating bar supporting the hatch closure in wentilatingposition.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view showing the hatch closure operatingmechanism and a 10 part of the hatch frame and cover with the covermoved to initial release position by the operating mechanism. a v

Figure 3 is a'front elevation of the closing link showing the detailsthereof and particularly the 16 FigureflA is a side elevation of thebody brack et showing the details and particularly the interlockingfeature. Figure ,4 is a front elevation of the body brack- -et showingthe details and particularly the interlocking feature. 25

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the operating leverillustrating the .trunnions'and the slotted bearing for the closing linkand also the relative position of the closinglink with the saidoperating lever at the instant of assembly, 30 the closing link beingshown in dot and dash lines.

Figure 6 is'a plan view of a refrigerator car hatch closureshowing theoperating, closing and ventilating mechanism in their relative tionswith the hatch fully closed.

- Figure 7 is an end elevation view showing the operating, closing andventilating mechanism in relative positions with thehatch fully closed.

Figure 8 is an elevation view of a portion of the hatch closure showingthe closing link en-' gaging one of the hatch cover bracket flanges andthe operating lever positioned tomove the hatch closure to ultimateclosed or locked position.

As illustrative of the invention, there is shown a portion of a car roofand a'hatch opening with car framing I forming the sides and ends of thehatch'opening. I The ceiling 2, the roof sheet 3 and thehatch' frame 4complete the car parts.

The hatch cover 5 is'provided with hatch plug shims- :6 which areplaced. between the-hatch cover 5 and the hatch plug 1. The shims 6 arefastened as the hatch plug 1 is attached to the.

posi- The peripheral sides 9 of the hatch plug 7 are padded and coveredwith cotton duck, or other suitable material, to present a yieldingsurface for contact with the hatch frame t. The hatch cover 5 is securedto the hatch frame i with hinges Iii. Brackets II are secured to thehatch cover 5 with rivets. The brackets II support the hatch cover 5above the car roof when the hatch is fully opened. To facilitatemovement of the hatch closure handheld I2 is fastened to the hatchcover. p

In connection with the hatch closure mechanism there is employed aclosing link generally designated I3 which is provided with sideportions Hi, I i as best shown in Figs. 3 and 3A. At one end of theclosing link I3, the side portions i l, IQ are spaced apart by the roundbearing I5 with the center portion I6 thereof cut away and adapted forinterlocking assembly with the operating lever of the mechanism. At theopposite end of the closing link IS the side portions I4, M

are spaced apart by the web connection I1. Ex-

. tending from the web connection I! is the final stage closing lug I8and also the projecting auxiliary closing lug IIBA.

An operating lever generally designated I9 acts in association with theclosing link I3 and other parts of the mechanism. The operating lever I9is provided with the bearing 28 and the bearing is provided with thebearing slot 2. I. The operating lever I9 is also provided with the camsurface 22 opposite the bearing 20 and the bearing slot Iii. portion ofthe top flange of the operating lever I9. The operating lever I9 isfurther provided with the flattened surfaces 23 of the trunnions 2 3 atthe end of the operating lever IQ and on both sides thereof adjacent thebearing 20 and the cam surface 22. The flattened surfaces 23 are on eachside of the pair of trunnions which are on both sides of the end portionof the operating lever I9. The end portion of the operating lever IEreferred to. terminates in the operating lever stop 25. Thisconstruction is best shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

A body bracket generally designated 26 is secured to the hatch frame 4.The body bracket 26 is provided with the bracket bearing 27 and thebracket bearing slot 28. The body bracket 26 is provided with theoperating lever retaining bolt 29 and is held in place and secured tothe hatch frame 4 by the rivet 30. The body bracket 28 is provided withthe side members 3| and 32 and oblong openings 33 extend through theside walls 3! and 32, respectively of the body bracket The body bracket26 with its side members 4A and 4 of the 26. are best shown in Figures1, drawings.

The hatch cover bracket 35 is secured to the hatch cover 5 with aplurality of rivets 33. The hatch cover bracket 35 has anextendedportion 31 (see Fig. 6) having the spaced apart flanges 38 and39. The top edge of the flange 39 is provided with a concave surfacetil. The concave portion 48 is positioned approximately above thelongitudinal center line of the operating lever I9, and forms a bearingfor the lugs I8 and I8A of the closing link In, The concave portion Allis best shown in Figures 1, 2, 6 and '7 of the drawings. Lug AIprojecting from the flange 38 of the hatch cover bracket 35 ispositioned between the side walls 3I and 32 of the body bracket 26 whenin closed relation to the bracket 26. the drawings.

The cam surface 22 as shown, is a bracket 35 is provided with anaperture 42 for the U-shaped seal pin 53. The lug M is also providedwith the ventilating bar regulating and limiting stop 44. The seal pin83 it attached to a link chain 45. The chain is anchored to the hatchcover bracket 35 with one of the rivets 36 securing the hatch coverbracket 35 to the hatch cover 5.

The U-shaped seal pin 23 is provided at its ends with slots 6, 6 toreceive the seal of the railway company upon whose car the hatch closuremechanism is mounted to maintain the selected and fixed position of thehatch closure. The hatch cover bracket 35 and its associated mechanismis best shown at the top of Figure 1, in Figures 2, 6, '7 and 8.

For means of ventilation in the car through the hatch closure, aventilating bar t? is swingingly attached to the body bracket 26 bymeans of a bolt G8 which utilizes a washer 45 to prevent excessivegyration of the ventilating bar ll as the ventilating bar is movedtoward full release position. The bracket 50 of the side wall SI of thebody bracket 2b is adapted to support the ventilating bar i'l in releaseposition free of any contact with the car or the parts of the hatchclosure frame. The bracket 5% is provided with the upwardly projectingflange IiI spaced from the side wall 3I of the body bracket 25 and formsa guide means to prevent movement of the ventilating bar t? when in fullrelease position. The ventilating bar 47 is provided with oblongopenings 52. These oblong openings 52 are positioned along theventilating bar l! for the several stages of ventilation required. Theventilating bar ll and the parts associated therewith are best shown inFigures 1, 6, 7 and 8.

In the foregoing description of the invention the. various parts of themechanism which relate to the operating, including the opening orrelease, and the closing of the mechanism and also the ventilatingmechanism, have been set forth. v

The operation of the mechanism will now be described and explained. Inassembling the closing link I3 with the operating lever I9, the closinglink I3 is moved on the operating lever I 9 with the one end of thelever positioned between the side members I4 of the closing link I3.Good views of the end of the operating lever I9 extending through theclosing link I3 will be seen in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. Theround bar I5 extending between the two sides I4, I4 is placed inposition with respect to the end of the operating lever I9 so that thecut away portion I6 will enter the slot 2| and permit the round bar I5to be moved into position and be seated in the bearing 23 and thenrotated to assembly position with relation to the operating lever I9 asshown in Figures 5 and '7 of the drawings.

After the body bracket 26 has been attached to the flange of the hatchframe 4 with rivets 30, the operating lever I9 with the closing link I3attached thereto is assembled by registering the flattened surfaces 23of the trunnions 2 1 (which are on the operating lever I8 adjacent thebearing 20 and the cam surface 22) with the slot 28 of the bearing 21 ofthe side members 3| and 32 of the body bracket- 26. The trunnions 24 arethen moved into contact with the bearing 2? of the body bracket 26 andthe operating lever I9 is swung downward as best shown in Figure 7 ofthe drawings, thus completing the interlocking assembly of the operatinglever I9, the

' closing link 13 and the body bracket'26, to 'be' maintained ininterlocking assembly of the closing link l3, the operating lever l9 andthe body bracket 26,- operating lever retaining bolt 29 is placed inposition in the bracket 26, best shown in Figures 1, 2, 7 and 8.

The operating lever stop 25 which projects from the end of the operatingbar l9 adjacent the trunnions 24, is adapted to contact the operatinglever retaining bolt 29. The limited movement of the closing link I3 bythe assembly of .the

operating lever IS with the body bracket 26, and

the restrictive movement of the operating lever 19 with respect to thebody bracket .26 by the operating lever retaining bolt 29, maintains theinterlocking engagement of all said parts in service positions.

Referring now to the hatch cover bracket 35 secured to the hatch cover5, the bracket is provided with the channel shaped portion havingflanges 38 and 39 and web section 31, the channel shaped extension isbest shown in Figures 2, 6, '1 and 8 of the drawings. The flange 39 hasa surface 22, of a portion of the top flange of the operating lever I9is adapted to contact the bottom of the web surface 31 of the extendedchan-.

tion. Thereupon to complete the closure and to properly set the hatchclosure 5 in its ultimate closed position, the operator utilizes theoperatinglever IS with the closing link [3 engaging the flange 39 ofbracket 35 as best shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. It will be'seenthat at this time the final stage closing lug l8 of the closing link 13is pressed against the concave surface 40 of the flange 39 of thebracket 35.

The body bracket 26 is provided with the oblong opening 33 in the sidewalls 3| and 32 as has been stated. These oblong openings 33 are adaptedto register with the aperture 42 of the hatch cover bracket lug 4| forthe application of the seal pin 43. The seal pin 43 is attached to achain 45 and the chain is secured to the hatch cover bracket 35. Theprogressive stages of registry of the openings 33 and 42 are shown inFigures 2, 8,7 and 6, respectively. After the seal pin 43 has beenplaced in final position, it may receive the railway company seal,utilizing the slots 46, 46 for that purpose.

With reference to the operation of the ventilating bar 41 as stated, itis swingingly attached to the body bracket 26 with a bolt and washer toprevent excessive gyration as the ventilating bar is moved toward fullrelease position. The ventilating bar 41 is supported free of anycontact with the car or frame parts. Guide means prevent movement of theventilating bar 41 when it is in full release position. The ventilatingbar 41 may be positioned for the several stages of ventilation of thecar by means of the plurality the hatch cover bracket 35. To positionthe hatch closure 5 in order to secure ventilation for the car, thehatch closure5 is moved to thelinitial open position with the operatingmechanism as shown in Figure 2. The hatch closure 5 is'thereuponmanually raised to the pre-determined amount :of opening and theventilating bar 41 cent and at one side ofsaid cover, said meansincluding an operating lever, a closing. link movable on said operatinglever, a hatch cover bracket, a body bracket-in addition to said hatchcover bracket, said operating lever having a bearing for said movableclosing link, said body bracket having side walls, said side walls beingprovided with bearings, said operating arm being provided withtrunnionson each side thereof to engage in the bearingsv in said body bracketside walls, means to maintain the assembly of said operating arm andsaid closing link with its respective bearing and trunnions, saidoperating lever being provided with a cam surface, the cam surface ofsaid operating lever being adapted to contact the hatch cover bracketasthe lever 'is moved upwardly to raise said cover, said, closing linkbeing adapted to engage thehatch-cover bracket as the operating lever ismoved downwardly to close said hatchcover, said hatch coverbracket beingprovided with an extending lug, saidlug being provided with an aperture,said body bracket secured to said hatch frame being provided withopenings in the side walls thereof, the aperture in the hatch coverbracket being adapted to register with the openings in said side wallsof said body bracket, a seal pin, said seal pin being adapted tolocksaid lug and said side walls of the body bracket.

2. In hatch closure mechanism for a refrigerator car, the combination ofa hatch frame, an insulated cover for said frame, sealing means attachedto said cover, opening and closing means adjacent and at one side ofsaid cover, said means including. an operating lever, a closing linkoperatively connected with said operating lever, two brackets, one ofsaid brackets being a hatch cover bracket and the other of said bracketsbeing a body bracket, said operating lever being provided with a camsurface,the cam surface of said operating leverbeing adapted to contactthe hatch having a bearing adjacent one of its ends, said closing linkhaving an integral bearing bar, said bearing @bar of said closing linkbeing adapted to be assembled with the bearing of the operating lever,said body bracket also having side wall portions and bearings in saidside wall portions, said operating lever also being provided withtrunnions adapted to be assembled in the-bearings of the side wallportions of the bodybracket, said closing link being provided with a lugadapted to contact said hatch cover bracket as the operating lever ismoved downwardly to close said hatch cover. v

3. In hatch closure mechanism for a refrigerator car, the combination ofa hatch frame, a

said cover, opening and closing means adjacent and at one side of saidcover, said means including an operating lever, a hatch cover bracket,said operating lever being provided with a cam surface, the cam surfaceof said operating lever being adapted to contact the hatch cover bracketas the lever is moved upwardly to raise said cover, said operating leverbeing placed in front of the cover and partially under the hatch coverbracket, a closing link movably mounted on the said operating lever,said closing link having an integral bearing bar adapted to be connectedwith said operating lever and to interlock with said lever, said closinglink being provided with a lug adapted to contact the hatch coverbracket as the operating lever is moved downwardly, the said closinglink being provided with a second or auxiliary ing also adapted tocontact the hatch cover bracket as the operating lever is moveddownwardly to close said hatch cover.

4. In hatch closure mechanism for a refrigerator car, the combination ofa hatch frame, a cover for said frame, sealing means attached to saidcover, opening and closing means adjacent and at one side o-fsaid cover,said means including an operating lever, a hatch cover bracket, saidhatch cover bracket having a projecting portion, said operating leverbeing provided with a cam surface, a body bracket having side wall portions, said operating lever also being movably attached to the bodybracket and positioned parallel to the said side of the hatch coveradjacent the opening and closing means and under said projecting portionof said hatch cover bracket, the cam surface of said operating leverbeing adapted to contact the projecting portion of the 9,192,440 coverfor said frame, sealing means attached to hatch cover bracket as thelever is moved upwardly to raise said cover, a closing link movablymounted on the said operating lever, said closing link being adapted toengage the hatch cover bracket as the operating lever is moveddownwardly to close said hatch cover, said projecting portion of saidhatch cover bracket extending transversely of said operating lever, saidclosing link and said side wall portions of said body bracket, saidtransverse projecting portion of said hatch cover bracket having twoparallel flanges connected by a web portion.

5. In hatch closure mechanism for a refrigerator car, the combination ofa hatch frame, a cover for said frame, opening and closing meansarranged in substantially parallel position with respect to one edge ofsaid cover, the principal operating elements of said opening and closingmeans being secured to the body of said car, said opening and closingmeans including an operating lever arranged parallel to an adjacent edgeof said cover and located outside of said cover in all positions of saidlever, a hatch cover bracket on said cover, said hatch cover brackethaving an extended portion, said operating lever extending under saidextended portion of said hatch cover bracket, a portion of the upperflange of said operating lever having a cam surface, said cam surface ofthe operating lever contacting the hatch cover bracket extended portionas the lever is moved upwardly to raise the cover, a closing linkmovably mounted on the said operating lever, said closing link havingcontact means to engage the hatch cover bracket extended portion as theoperating lever is moved downwardly to close said hatch cover.

AUGUST W. L; HARTBAUER.

